Cultural Christianity

Cultural Christianity and the Coming Revolution

April 3, 2006

The rise of revolutionary Christians.

Christian. Has the word lost its meaning? Some call themselves by that name simply because they go to church, believe in God, or live in country where it is part of the culture.

"Yeah, I’m a Christian� I believe in God."
"My parents are Christians."
"I go to church."
"I’m a good person."

And what about the musician or artist who thanks God after receiving an award, and later uses His name as a curse or profanity? Or the person who attends church every Sunday only to spend the other six days of the week denying God with their lifestyle? For these people, Christianity is only a label, at the most something to associate with. They, like many others, are cultural Christians.

Cultural Christians always do the "right thing," but never quite know what the heart is behind those things. They love step-by-step teachings and follow them to the best of their abilities. Grace also happens to be a helpful tool they can use to cover up all those little sins they didn’t really try very hard to avoid anyway. When it comes down to it, their foundation is built on a single altar call moment. They have "accepted" Jesus, of course, but only occasionally think about maybe, possibly, making Him the Lord of their lives. On the outside, they may look and sound Christian, but deep down inside, something is missing.

Being a Christian is more than calling yourself one. It means being committed to Christ and being one of His followers. The cultural Christian may be involved with Christian things, but being fully committed to Christ is another story. Out of the millions of people in America who call themselves Christians, many of them are far from the real thing. However, a group of remarkably different people is standing apart from the crowd.

The desire of the BattleCry Campaign is to raise up an army of extraordinary believers, young and old alike, who refuse to live as cultural Christians. If we want this generation and this country to be forever changed by God, then someone, all of us, need to step up. Are you willing to abandon complacent, compromising, and passionless Christianity for the life of a wholehearted, uncompromising, passionate follower of Christ? If so, it is time to embrace the lifestyle of a revolutionary Christian.

Revolutionaries Defined

In his book, Revolution, George Barna defines this group of Christians, which he has identified through years of research. For them, faith is not just a religion or a set of rules they follow; it is their life. Their relationship with God is not a priority; it is the priority, affecting every facet of life. Passionate in their love for God, unshakeable in their faith, radical in their lifestyle, and earth-shattering on their impact on the world around them, they are revolutionaries.

Revolutionaries are not satisfied with just going to church or youth group week in and week out. Activities, rituals, and routines are not the point. Instead, connecting with God and knowing Him more are what matter most. When it comes to their faith, staying young and ignorant of it is not an option. They do what it takes to grow, and they have completely surrendered themselves to God in all areas of life. They have given up control and are like soldiers, ready to answer the orders of their Commanding Officer.

For them, life is not about making the most of things now; instead, for revolutionaries, it is all about impacting the life to come. In everything they do, eternity is on the forefront of their hearts and minds. Whether in their careers, families, or relationships with others, they seek to make a difference in this life in order to affect the next.

A revolutionary’s attitude also separates him from the rest. Since they know who they are and Who they believe in, they live confidently and fearlessly. They know the big picture and have every reason to be optimistic because they trust God and His promises. Above all, they live honorable and virtuous lives, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it is God’s standard. Why would they do anything except obey Him?

To the revolutionary, godly character is essential. Jesus could not have made the impact he did if His lifestyle did not back up His words. In the same way, revolutionaries follow His example. They are people who live out what they say they believe in and base their lives on the principles of God’s word. Their integrity, excellence, hard work, honor, humility, and other strengths of character distinguish them from the culture and people around them. Though they are not perfect, they try to live as Jesus lived and stand out as bright lights in a very dark world.

When others look at them, their lives reflect the love of God. A line from an old hymn says, "They will know that we are Christians by our love." Their love for people is only surpassed by their love for God, Another quote says that "No man is an island." Revolutionaries understand that as a Christian, solid relationships with other passionate Christians are essential for living a vibrant and effective life. Not only are these relationships a source of friendship, but also of encouragement and accountability. Together, they grow and push each other closer to God.

It’s Time to Stick Out

When revolutionaries stick out from the crowd, cultural Christians blend in with society because of their lack of passion and spiritual maturity. Often times, a closer look at a cultural Christian’s life reveals little or no difference between them and non-Christians.

Simply put, revolutionaries love God with their whole heart, mind, and soul. They have counted the cost and surrendered their lives to Him. They live out Luke 9:22-23 (NIV), which says: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."

The message of the BattleCry is to create revolutionary people who will fight, not a physical battle, but a spiritual battle for the hearts, minds, and souls of this generation. It exists to challenge young people and adults alike to abandon cultural Christianity and dive head-first into the committed lifestyle of a revolutionary. We must realize that if we do not act now, an estimated meager 4% of this generation of teenagers will be Christians when they reach adulthood. We must reach them now! Will you join the revolution?

Please forward this article to a friend to challenge them in their walk with God, and encourage them to join the BattleCry Coalition.

Additional resources:

• Revolution - by George Barna
• Faith Revolutionaries Stand Out from the Crowd

Sources: “Revolution” by George Barna, The Barna Group, Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, Christian Research Institute

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